2-Day Chengdu Panda & Leshan Buddha Tour: Mt. Emei included

Giant pandas, a cliff-carved Buddha, and a mountain temple at high elevation over a couple of days

A 2-day private tour from Chengdu that combines the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the Leshan Giant Buddha (a UNESCO World Heritage Site carved into a cliff face), and Mt. Emei's Golden Summit at over 3,078 meters. The itinerary includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide in English, one night accommodation at Mt. Emei, and a private van with driver. Entrance fees and cable car rides are paid on-site. You can add the panda visit to day one or book the Leshan and Mt. Emei route alone.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Panda tour and Leshan Giant Buddha

• Meet guide at hotel 7:30 am
• Visit Chengdu Panda Breeding Center
• Drive to Leshan Giant Buddha site
• Walk through park to viewing platforms
• Admire Leshan Giant Buddha statue

Day 2: Emei mountain exploration

• Take sightseeing bus to Leidongping
• Hike to cable car station
• Ride cable car to Golden Summit
• Visit Puxian Buddha statue and Huazang temple
• Enjoy panoramic mountain views
• Lunch at Golden Summit restaurant
• Take cable car and bus down
• Visit Baoguo temple

The experience

The tour starts at 7:30 am with pickup from your hotel. You'll arrive at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early enough to watch the pandas during their morning feeding: the center focuses on conservation and protection, and you'll see them in a semi-wild environment. After the panda visit, you drive to Leshan, where the Giant Buddha rises from a cliff face. This monumental stone carving, one of the largest Buddha statues in the world, sits in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can walk through the park to multiple viewing platforms, including one at the base where you see the intricate carved details up close, or take a boat tour on the river for a different perspective.

Day two takes you up Mt. Emei. You'll take a local sightseeing bus for about 1.5 hours to Leidongping, then hike roughly 30 minutes to the cable car station. The cable car carries you to the Golden Summit, over 3,078 meters high (10,098 feet), where a towering gold-plated bronze statue of Puxian Buddha stands: one of the tallest gold-plated Buddha statues in the world. You'll visit the Huazang temple and explore the area to take in panoramic views of Mt. Emei and distant snow mountains. On clear days, you may see the cloud sea wrapping around the mountainside. After lunch at one of the summit's hotel restaurants, you cable car and bus back down to the mountain's base to visit Baoguo temple, one of Mt. Emei's main temples, before returning to Chengdu.

Your private guide travels with you both days and speaks English. The van and driver remain at your service throughout, and one night's accommodation at Mt. Emei is included in the package. You can request an upgraded hotel and add an extra night if you want more time on the mountain. All entrance fees and cable car fares are paid when you arrive at each site.

What’s included

• Private van and driver for both days.
• English-speaking private guide.
• one night hotel accommodation at Mt. Emei.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Chengdu.
• access to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, the Leshan Giant Buddha site, and Mt. Emei's temples and Golden Summit.

Options for this experience

2 options

Two-day Leshan and Emei Mountain tourGuide in English · 09:00Two-day tour of Leshan and Emei Mountain, pickup is included

Panda visit added on the first dayGuide in English · 19:30Panda visit added on the first day, pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00 and 19:30

Book up to8h before

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 4 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Operated by Discovery more

Is this one for you?The fixed two-day schedule packs three major Sichuan landmarks into one trip without the logistics of arranging separate transport and guides. If you want to see the pandas, the Buddha and the mountain in one journey with a single guide and van, this itinerary does it. If you prefer to linger at any one site or skip the pandas, you can book the Leshan and Mt. Emei option alone at checkout.

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Top questions

What time does the tour start and when do I get picked up?

The guide meets you at your hotel at 7:30 am on day one for pickup in the private van. Hotel drop-off happens after the tour ends on day two.

Can I see the pandas if I'm not an early riser?

The panda visit is scheduled for early morning at 7:30 am specifically so you catch the pandas during their breakfast, when they're most active. This is the best time to observe them.

What is the Leshan Giant Buddha and how do I see it?

The Leshan Giant Buddha is a monumental stone carving cut into a cliff face near Leshan city. It's one of the largest Buddha statues in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll walk through a park to reach viewing platforms overlooking the statue, with one platform at the base where you can see the carved details up close. A boat tour on the river is another option for viewing it from the water.

How high is Mt. Emei's Golden Summit and what will I see there?

The Golden Summit sits at over 3,078 meters (10,098 feet) high. At the top stands a towering gold-plated bronze statue of Puxian Buddha, one of the tallest gold-plated Buddha statues in the world. You'll see panoramic views of Mt. Emei and distant snow mountains, and on clear days, the cloud sea surrounding the mountain.

Do I need to book hotels separately, or is accommodation included?

One night's stay at Mt. Emei is included in the tour package. The operator offers a hotel booking service if you need help arranging it, and you can request an upgraded hotel or add an extra night at checkout for an additional cost.

What meals and entrance fees are included?

Meals are not included in the tour price. All entrance fees for the panda center, Leshan Buddha site, Mt. Emei, and cable car rides are paid on-site when you arrive at each location.